History Returns to Appalachia, the Backdrop for ‘Hatfields & McCoys,’ With New Show

History is revisiting Appalachia, the setting for its popular “Hatfields & McCoys” miniseries. The New York Post reports that the cable channel has a reality show in the pipeline about ginseng hunters.

The series, “Appalachian Outlaws," is set to premiere Jan. 9. The program is produced by FremantleMedia.

The show will track people who grow, dig for and sell ginseng, whose root has medicinal purposes and can bring in up to $600 a pound. The ginseng harvest season lasts only two months, from the end of summer until the first frost, the piece notes.

In its description of the show, History says: “With ginseng fever heating up, outsiders are creeping in on locals’ territory to find it, causing massive turf wars over this heavily revered root."

One Comment

Ginseng is a slow growing native plant that takes up to 10 plus years to reach a harvestable size, and when you harvest it you take the root. Ginseng is an at-risk native medicinal plant that is endangered in many states. I would hope that the History Channel would also educate its viewers about the fragility of this important species that could be lost for ever if it is recklessly harvested. For more information about at-risk native medicinal plants go to http://www.unitedplantsavers.org